Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. . . .”
On this Veterans Day, it is important that we remember the origins of this holiday which is different from Memorial Day which is commemorated in May. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is primarily set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime. On October 8, 1954, President Eisenhower signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It was his earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry would join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. And so we pay tribute to all of our living Veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This devotion is dedicated to our Veterans: our fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. We salute you and thank you for your service to our country.
I will never forget watching on television the day in early 1973 when hundreds of POWs were released from the Vietnam conflict, finally setting foot in America to be greeted by devoted families after endless years in captivity. Many stepped off of the plane to kiss the ground of our beloved country, the homeland they had cherished in their hearts and for years had dreamed of setting foot upon once again.
Another unforgettable date for many is May 8th, 1945, officially recorded as the day World War II ceased all conflict in Europe, also known as Victory in Europe or VE Day. It marked the end of a determined, hard-fought battle for freedom over a despicable reign of terror brought on by the Nazis in a conflict that took over 60 million lives worldwide. That number includes many who died as captives in concentration and prisoner of war camps. As the allies gained more ground toward ultimate victory, hundreds of thousands were liberated from captivity all over Europe—700,000 from concentration camps and over 90,000 allied prisoners were released from POW camps. Their fight for their lives and freedom was finally realized with victory. The war would continue for three more months until the final victory in Japan came on August 15. 1945, and thousands more were released from captivity.
Today, many individuals suffer as prisoners but are not necessarily in a detention facility. They are prisoners to sin, bound by chains that hold them captive. The Bible teaches that, in Christ, we are no longer spiritual POWs, held captive by the condition of our sin. We are no longer spiritually blind as He has given us new sight to see things that are true. We may be broken-hearted but we need no longer suffer alone. He brings comfort and healing to those who have lost a loved one, who are worried over a wayward child, who are grieving over the breakup of a marriage through infidelity. The same Jesus who walked this earth, died on a cross, and rose from the dead loves us and came to set us free!
Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for and ask Your blessing upon our Veterans: active duty, retired, wounded, those still living who have given up so much for the sake of our nation’s freedoms and many who paid with their lives. Because You sent Your Son to pay the penalty for our sin, You know the pain of loss. Thank you that through your Son we have been released, unchained and set free from whatever binds us, but sometimes we live as if we are still bound. Break the chains that bind us, we pray, so that we may live in true freedom today and forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“My Chains Are Gone” ~ lyrics by Chris Tomlin
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace.
~ painting by Alex Burg
